Thailand on Sunday (Dec 26) reported 2,532 new COVID-19 cases, 3,771 recoveries and 22 deaths.

 

Since the start of the pandemic, Thailand has reported a total of 2,209,970 COVID-19 cases.

 

The death toll now stands at 21,580 since the start of the pandemic. 

 

On Saturday, Thailand confirmed 205 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

 

Of those cases, 180 were discovered among international travellers, while 25 were found among the local population.

 

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PCR test positive cases, total of 2,532 official new infections. 22 official covid deaths recorded.

 

Rapid tests positive cases, 962 bringing the total of PCR and ATK results to 3,494

https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/

 

Rolling 7 day average chart (up to 24th Dec) and bar chart of both PCR and ATK totals

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/thailand

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1474904373473861632

 

UPDATE: 2,532 confirmed cases, 962 probable cases (ATK), and 22 deaths (0.98%). Out of 35,862 patients , 17,696 are in hospital, 16,328 in hospitel and 924 in home/community isolation. There are 813 in a serious condition (+24) with 206 on ventilators (0) #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1474933037427138560

The number of Covid-19 cases crossed 14.73 million across Southeast Asia, with 23,646 new cases reported on Saturday (December 25).

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40010422

25 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Of those cases, 180 were discovered among international travellers, while 25 were found among the local population.

With a daily growth rate of double or less then numbers are going to shoot up, dependent on testing of course

389,218 vaccine doses administered yesterday

102,561,331 total doses

Deleted post

Thailand joins list of countries hit by all 5 variants of concern

 

He added that the number of Omicron cases in Thailand is expected to rise as this variant spreads 4.1 per cent faster than Delta and only has a three-day incubation period. The vaccines provide little or no protection.

 

“What we need to do now is administer mRNA booster shots and people should protect themselves by wearing facemasks, maintaining at least a metre’s distance and avoiding gatherings.”

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010427

14 minutes ago, anchadian said:

BANGKOK: The Omicron cluster in Kalasin appears to be expanding after local authorities diagnosed 64 more cases on Saturday (Dec 25).

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/kalasin-pub-cluster-expands-82511.php

Going by this report and the impact caused by having just one couple slip though the T&G undetected,  I would be surprised if they continue leaving open the loophole for another 90,000 grandfathered arrivals from omicron hotspots to exploit. 
 

If they do and their policy remains the same then there will be further lockdowns in no time. 
 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Going by this report and the impact caused by having just one couple slip though the T&G undetected,  I would be surprised if they continue leaving open the loophole for another 90,000 grandfathered arrivals from omicron hotspots to exploit. 
 

If they do and their policy remains the same then there will be further lockdowns in no time. 
 

More scare mongering posts, firstly the report on the 90,000 people who would still be allowed to return was 5 days ago, since then thousands have already arrived including over 11.5k on Christmas eve alone.

 

Lockdowns have not been mentioned as a possibility by anyone other than you.

No lockdown for Thailand despite 205 Omicron cases confirmed in the country

 

Anutin said Public Health Ministry has launched a campaign to encourage people to receive their booster dose as many studies have proven that booster dose can reduce risk of Omicron infection. 

 

He also confirmed that no lockdown will be imposed in Thailand, while asking people to celebrate the New Year festival under public health measures.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010388

S.Africa scraps isolation for those without COVID symptoms!

Maybe right policy to get out of this misery!

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrica-scraps-isolation-those-without-covid-symptoms-2021-12-24/

 

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

With a daily growth rate of double or less then numbers are going to shoot up, dependent on testing of course

Those 25 in the local population are not fully explained.  Are they trying to say that the 25 in the public, or in the wild as I like to say, came from contact with the international Omicron variant carriers or are they cases that have just appeared.  If they are trying to equate them to being from those 2 Belgian travelers that infected their family, including some in Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani, the bar and restaurant, then that still does not explain the this in full, unless I have missed something somewhere.

 

Surely they need to test more in and outside of the areas, expanding outwards as they do to see where cases are, but then do they really want to do that.  In light of the Revenue Director now having covid it will be interesting to see what strain this man has.

 

Another interesting thing is that if these folks who they are blaming from spreading the Omicron variant entered through the sandbox scheme and were there at least 7 days, as is the case with the 3 now infected British folks in Prachuap, where did they actually become infected.  So many questions and so few answers if they truly are tracking and tracing the infected folks routes of travel. If Omicron infections spread as quickly as they say and only has an incubation period of three days were the infected in Phuket, on the plane, or where?

 

An interesting read:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90709354/omicron-incubation-period-what-to-know-about-the-time-period-between-infection-and-symptoms

 

Research continues to emerge on the highly transmissible omicron variant, which went from being unknown a few short weeks ago to the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States this week. Although much is still unknown about omicron, the remarkable speed of its spread indicates that it has a shorter incubation period than earlier variants.

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

No lockdown for Thailand despite 205 Omicron cases confirmed in the country

 

Anutin said Public Health Ministry has launched a campaign to encourage people to receive their booster dose as many studies have proven that booster dose can reduce risk of Omicron infection. 

 

He also confirmed that no lockdown will be imposed in Thailand, while asking people to celebrate the New Year festival under public health measures.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40010388

A link in my post above also indicates the reduction in time for actual quarantine for vaccinated folks should be cut in half.  This is being echoed by more in the scientific community as well.

 

"Given omicrons’s speed, some experts are also calling for a shorter isolation period for people who test positive, as Fast Company‘s Ruth Reader reported earlier this week. While current guidance recommends 10 days from symptom onset, some epidemiologists say this time period should be cut in half—at least for vaccinated people"

 

So locking down is not an answer and as Anutin said, and for once I agree, using the proper safety measures should be all that is needed. 

 

The US has decided to cut the ban for the SA countries and allow them in as well based upon scientific review.

 

https://www.wkrg.com/news/us-to-lift-travel-ban-on-8-southern-african-countries/

 

"The variant, which was first detected by scientists in South Africa, has since spread around the world. The World Health Organization and leaders in southern Africa criticized the travel ban as ineffective and unfairly damaging to local economies."

 

"White House spokesman Kevin Munoz said on Twitter that the decision wasrecommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Munoz said the temporary travel bans bought scientists necessary time to study the new virus variant and conclude that the current vaccinations are effective in blunting its impact."

 

Omicron is now spreading rapidly throughout the U.S., including among the vaccinated, but a huge majority of those being hospitalized are unvaccinated.

 

“The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron, esp boosted,” Munoz tweeted.

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

More scare mongering posts, firstly the report on the 90,000 people who would still be allowed to return was 5 days ago, since then thousands have already arrived including over 11.5k on Christmas eve alone.

 

Lockdowns have not been mentioned as a possibility by anyone other than you.

No chance of "real" lockdowns.

That finished with the discovery of vaccines.

Getting Thailand's population boosted is what matters. Let's hope they don't take another 10 months to do that.

Glad i don't get my horse racing tips from our fellow poster.

Throwing darts at a dart board, with the lights turned out, would get you more accurate predictions.

2 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Going by this report and the impact caused by having just one couple slip though the T&G undetected,  I would be surprised if they continue leaving open the loophole for another 90,000 grandfathered arrivals from omicron hotspots to exploit. 
 

If they do and their policy remains the same then there will be further lockdowns in no time. 
 

 

 

Agreed. They should stop this grandfathered rule immediately. Anyone flying to an Omicron hotspot and then entering Thailand and taking a single test before going into the community is deeply irresponsible. The super spreader couple proved that. 

 

No matter how much they virtue signal or claim their first class ticket makes them immune from covid. 

40 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Agreed. They should stop this grandfathered rule immediately. Anyone flying to an Omicron hotspot and then entering Thailand and taking a single test before going into the community is deeply irresponsible. The super spreader couple proved that. 

 

No matter how much they virtue signal or claim their first class ticket makes them immune from covid. 

Yes, I see from the other thread that they are now shutting re opened schools in Kalasin as a precaution as well as bars and restaurants so it’s already starting to affect the local community. Shutting schools again with more disruption to children’s education, the very thing people were trying to avoid. 

One couple slipping through the T&G process is already wreaking chaos in that province. Can you imagine what it will be like when another 90,000 exploit the loophole and visit from the covid hotspots. The potential is more schools shut and lockdowns re introduced if it gets out of control which using the Kalasin example wouldn’t take much to do. The very thing the Thai people dont need at this very time. 
 

This is not just about the health of Thai people, it’s about the further potential impact it will have on them. 
 

Yes, it’s already been shown how easily it is to catch covid while transferring through airports and flying irrespective of how careful you are or what class you claim to travel. Seems this couple may have been infected during this process. 
 

 

 

 

17 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Yes, I see from the other thread that they are now shutting schools in Kalasin as a precaution as well as bars and restaurants so it’s already starting to affect the local community. Shutting schools again with more disruption to children’s education, the very thing people were trying to avoid. 

One couple slipping through the T&G process is already wreaking chaos in that province. Can you imagine what it will be like when another 90,000 exploit the loophole and visit from the covid hotspots. The potential is more schools shut and lockdowns re introduced if it gets out of control which using the Kalasin example wouldn’t take much to do. The very thing the Thai people dont need at this very time. 
 

Yes, it’s already been showed how easily it is to catch covid while transferring through airports and flying irrespective of how careful you are or what class you claim to travel. Seems this couple may have been infected during this process. 
 

 

 

 

Surely you know up to two thirds of goverment schools were already closed in Thailand before Omicron appeared. As were bars and entertainment venues.

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

With a daily growth rate of double or less then numbers are going to shoot up, dependent on testing of course

The numbers quoted for omicron yesterday were from " random testing "

" Random testing " of course means very little.

On another note 

My Daughter returned back to School last week.

Only to be handed for her test an ATK test kit by a Covid + teacher !!!!!! upon her entry to the premises  ( as it later transpired )

How utterly stupid and irresponsible does it get. The Teachers should all have been tested and cleared prior to the Kids returning.

Now the School does not know whether to open or close, and everybody has to undertake more ATK testing

 

50 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

 

No matter how much they virtue signal or claim their first class ticket makes them immune from covid. 

Not looking like first class ticket holders to me. This on xmas eve

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1474896647473668097?t=2bsv-Dt2-BGETtQE0o0PeQ&s=19

 

33 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Not looking like first class ticket holders to me. This on xmas eve

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1474896647473668097?t=2bsv-Dt2-BGETtQE0o0PeQ&s=19

 

If in that group has few omicron infected one's ! Half of that group going to get that one, vaxxed or not! Already has said that normal surgical mask dont do sht against it! That mask leak from side's, its not sealed enough. But wellcome to Thailand, maybe they all smile under that mask! Also has said that everybody going to get it sooner or later. 

Seems not many needed to go hospital anyway.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-1-7-million-people-had-coronavirus-across-the-uk-last-week-most-since-autumn-2020-12503477

 

Thailand had about 20000 case same week! So what we can expect future in Thailand or Thailand has some kind "shield" against it!

 

 

11 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

If in that group has few omicron infected one's ! Half of that group going to get that one, vaxxed or not! Already has said that normal surgical mask dont do sht against it! That mask leak from side's, its not sealed enough. But wellcome to Thailand, maybe they all smile under that mask! Also has said that everybody going to get it sooner or later. 

Seems not many needed to go hospital anyway.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-1-7-million-people-had-coronavirus-across-the-uk-last-week-most-since-autumn-2020-12503477

 

Thailand had about 20000 case same week! So what we can expect future in Thailand or Thailand has some kind "shield" against it!

 

 

Indeed, it was useful to see that photo to reinforce the message of how many will be entering in large uncontrolled groups such as that and go on to T&G where, if like the Kalasin couple, go on to be undetected and re infect. 

All schools in #Kalasin municipality closed until December 30th over #Omicron concerns

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/all-schools-in-kalasin-municipality-closed-until-december-30th-over-omicron-concerns/

9 minutes ago, anchadian said:

All schools in #Kalasin municipality closed until December 30th over #Omicron concerns

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/all-schools-in-kalasin-municipality-closed-until-december-30th-over-omicron-concerns/

So from one couple being tested negative using T&G and allowed to roam infecting others, we now have over 100 new cases and all schools and educational institutions to close. 
 

Scary how quick the impact and damage one couple has caused when you consider the number arriving using the same method from countries like UK and USA, especially when you see photos at the airport such as the one posted above. 

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Surely you know up to two thirds of goverment schools were already closed in Thailand before Omicron appeared. As were bars and entertainment venues.

Yes Sir, daughter has not been in an classroom in 9 months. Hotels around us going on 2 years closed.  Trying to open reasonably while still ensuring those double vaxxed and some with boosters and still testing on arrival as well as before flying, which Test N Go was about is still appropriate.  They are tested versus normal Thais who are not and many still unvaccinated.

 

Entertainment Venues in BKK are still closed yet in Phuket last night Bangla was on fire with loads of folks in Patong.

The BP are reporting that two foreigners have tested positive for the Omicron variant who visited Chiang Mai.  Further lab tests in a couple of days.

3 hours ago, 2 is 1 said:

If in that group has few omicron infected one's ! Half of that group going to get that one, vaxxed or not! Already has said that normal surgical mask dont do sht against it! That mask leak from side's, its not sealed enough. But wellcome to Thailand, maybe they all smile under that mask! Also has said that everybody going to get it sooner or later. 

Seems not many needed to go hospital anyway.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-1-7-million-people-had-coronavirus-across-the-uk-last-week-most-since-autumn-2020-12503477

 

Thailand had about 20000 case same week! So what we can expect future in Thailand or Thailand has some kind "shield" against it!

 

Its sad in my opinion how they make tourists and returning expats and Thai's jump through all the hoops of the Test and Go pass, act as responsibly as possible then for Thailand to make a complete mockery of it by a shambolic display of organization on arrival in Bangkok, putting them at risk through the dire lack of social distancing.

 

Many of us questioned whether Thailand was really ready for an opening with the pass system due to the vaccine situation here at the time. However its done, the decision was taken and once taken there was a huge sign of relief for many locals here and a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Omicron would have gotten in anyway, holding it back was just delaying the inevitable.

 

Thankfully the Phuket Sandbox has been allowed to remain, with that arrivals are still allowed into the community after their test on arrival so long as they stay at the same hotel every night for 7 nights. It did not generate a huge amount but did lead to many businesses opening up again providing a much needed lifeline for locals. Yesterday there was over 1,700 arrivals, hopefully they will carry on coming.

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes Sir, daughter has not been in an classroom in 9 months. Hotels around us going on 2 years closed.  Trying to open reasonably while still ensuring those double vaxxed and some with boosters and still testing on arrival as well as before flying, which Test N Go was about is still appropriate.  They are tested versus normal Thais who are not and many still unvaccinated.

 

Entertainment Venues in BKK are still closed yet in Phuket last night Bangla was on fire with loads of folks in Patong.

Schools are always the first target to close and the last to open in Thailand, even before bars and restaurants, quite shameful.

6 minutes ago, anchadian said:

The BP are reporting that two foreigners have tested positive for the Omicron variant who visited Chiang Mai.  Further lab tests in a couple of days.

The question that begs to be answered is are they track and tracing all of those on the flights the two took, and then testing all of those folks as well as those they had contact with on the ground.  It does appear that the infections are surfacing on day 6 or day 7 with symptoms, and with an incubation period of 3 days one wonders if they were infected upon arrival and at the initial quarantine facilities or possibly in flight or just prior to flying, and sometime after two negative tests, the pre-flight, and then the arrival one.  Testing on day 6 or 7 as one did with the Antigen test does show that this step is crucial.  I do understand folks traveling when they have tested negative is a concern, and so one has to wonder just where these infections are arising from.

 

Some of the people on the Test N Go scheme that I know have tested negative, then gone on home where they have stayed for a period of time isolating and have not shown any symptoms or even tested positive.  One of those is my Ex-wife who flew into BKK, stayed at the Novotel, and then flew to Udon Thani where she stayed at her parents home, in her own bungalow arranging for things to be undertaken.  I flew up for some personal business on the 10th and met with all of them in order to close out some court proceedings.  I nor the family have shown any symptoms and of course I test weekly on Mondays to assist in staying safe and protecting myself and family.

 

Omicron is fast moving, and those my daughter in the US has treated have only cold related upper respiratory symptoms and after 3 to 4 days are better and show negative.